out of whole cloth

1. From pure fabrication or fiction. This expression is often put as cut (or made) out of whole cloth, as in That story was cut out of whole cloth. In the 15th century this expression referred to something fabricated from cloth that ran the full length of the loom. However, by the 1800s it was common practice for tailors to deceive their customers and, instead of using whole cloth, actually make garments from pieced goods. Their advertising slogan, “cut out of whole cloth,” thus came to mean “made up, false.”

Example Sentences

EPA has violated this clear command in making up a limitation out of whole cloth.

From Slate

Others, such as the Leagues Cup, were created out of whole cloth.

From Los Angeles Times

Hampson notes that the majority created the 15-day cure process out of whole cloth, and he concludes by accusing his colleagues of “legislating from the bench.”

From Slate

It was a ridiculous idea made up out of whole cloth, but Donald Trump 100% bought into it.

From Salon

They made it up out of whole cloth for one purpose: They realized that, by raising a claim of immunity, Trump could halt all proceedings at the trial court until he exhausted his appeals, at which point he would be far closer to winning back the presidency.

From Slate